Pattern match when curtains closed

[Sewingbelle Two Needles Find all posts View Profile Close Sewingbelle]

I used to make all of my curtains but haven't done so for about 16 years and don't ever remember having this problem before I have matched the pattern on the width and a half okay but when I place the fabric to sit as if the curtains are closed the pattern doesn't match. I joined the half width of the fabric to the full width at the selvedges, is that correct? To get the pattern to match when the curtains would be closed would mean taking a larger piece off one curtain than the other and I know that can't possibly be right - so where have I gone wrong?

Sorry, for all the questions

[janie Pins & Needles Find all posts View Profile Close janie]

Re: Pattern match when curtains closed

Hi sewingbelle

If you have matched the seams then what you have done is correct. I think that what has happened is that it is one of those horizontal repeats that is like a half repeat ( sorry can't explain it very well) and so as you have a half width it doesn't match in the centre. To do this you would have needed extra fabric. There is nothing you can do about it now , except buying more fabric, but if overall the pattern lines up and you can live with it then I don't expect anyone else will notice. Good luck with them
Janie

[Sewingbelle Two Needles Find all posts View Profile Close Sewingbelle]

Re: Pattern match when curtains closed

Janie, thanks and yes that's exactly the type of pattern it is and your explanation is great I can understand it perfectly. I had tried every way I could think of but just couldn't get a match across. Gosh I must just have been lucky over the years that I hadn't came across this before. I know what you mean about needing extra fabric to be able to create a match as that had crossed my mind. At least now I know it wasn't something I had done by mismatching

[janie Pins & Needles Find all posts View Profile Close janie]

Re: Pattern match when curtains closed

Glad you understood. It is also a good lesson for me as I had forgotten about that too. Of course if the customer shows me a sample then its not always possible to spot that if you haven't used the fabric before. Yesterday I started on some big curtains (28 metres) which turned out to be a half repeat which was not stated on the sample pattern repeat. Nightmare. In my view half repeats should be banned, perhaps our nanny state could legislate on this!
Janie

[suel Pins & Needles Find all posts View Profile Close suel]

Re: Pattern match when curtains closed

Janie,

I believe some of our members have had some success in getting FOC additional fabric, where the supplier had not stated that it was a half drop repeat...it is worth a try if you are short and need to buy extra.

There is no point in stating a pattern repeat measurement and then failing to mention that it is half drop repeat.

Sue.

[Sewingbelle Two Needles Find all posts View Profile Close Sewingbelle]

Re: Pattern match when curtains closed

I spoke to my friend who I am making the curtains for and explained about the match. She said she has actually noticed the pattern doesn't match when the curtains are closed on ready made curtains she has purchases from M&S. She is happy for me just to go ahead and make the curtains the way they are as she now has blinds and the curtains will not be closed plus she said it's not worth paying extra money just to get a couple of flowers matching :P Thank goodness for that as I didn't fancy matching the pattern in again

Now having came across this I will look out for it when making curtains in the future as it does annoy me when patterns aren't matched properly. The annoying thing is that I asked two separate girls in the shop about the pattern repeat on these curtains and neither of them mentioned the half drop scenario and actually worked out the exact same amount of metres for the curtains. It makes me wonder if the girls are aware that this can happen. It is a lesson learned, another piece of knowledge gained from this forum

[Louise Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Louise]

Re: Pattern match when curtains closed

Depending on which shop you were in, you might have found the assistants did not understand what a half drop pattern was anyway...........I am surprised you got the same answer from both of them!

[Sewingbelle Two Needles Find all posts View Profile Close Sewingbelle]

Re: Pattern match when curtains closed

What makes it worse is that this is a large curtain fabric shop that only specialises in soft furnishing fabrics and accessories and as you say Louise two girls gave me the exact same answers.

[YvonneR Pins & Needles Find all posts View Profile Close YvonneR]

Re: Pattern match when curtains closed

What a nightmare for you ... the first time I came across the 1/2 drop repeat scenario I will never forget and I sincerely hope I never get it wrong again - it could have cost me dearly! I now understand and if it something I think may be a half drop I always check and check and double check now I would hate to go through that ever again! Good luck hope all is ok.

[Sewingbelle Two Needles Find all posts View Profile Close Sewingbelle]

Photos of the pattern repeat that I can't match

Here are some pics to let you see where my problem is with the fabric pattern matching in the middle when the curtains would be closed. On all other areas of the curtains the patterns match both vertically and horizontally. I have been reading about half drop repeats and I'm now confused as to if this is actually the problem. The problem I am experiencing is that when I turn back the allowance of the main fabric to attach the linings the pattern doesn't meet

The curtains may look slightly out of align as the seams have not been pressed yet and they are just placed for photos. It's not too clear in the photos but one row has a small flower and the next row has a large flower.

Just out of interest, does anyone recognise and know the name of this fabric?

[attachment=2:3bonk1xx]LEFT HAND CURTAIN.JPG[/attachment:3bonk1xx][attachment=1:3bonk1xx]RIGHT HAND CURTAIN.JPG[/attachment:3bonk1xx][attachment=0:3bonk1xx]LEFT & RIGHT HAND CURTAIN MEETING AT MIDDLE.JPG[/attachment:3bonk1xx]

[Schuhby Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Schuhby]

Re: Photos of the pattern repeat that I can't match

The leading edges won't always match perfectly, and if they did you would lose the match when the curtains are drawn and overlap. Your only option if this is a major issue for you is to cut in to the width to match the pattern. As they are the curtains will flow horizontally to the eye and it doens't look like you're working with a half drop repeat.

Philip

[Rosie BANNED USER Find all posts View Profile Close Rosie]

Re: Pattern match when curtains closed

I have used that fabric! A client bought it from the place in London - Curtain Factory Outlet. Don't know its name but I have the invoice somewhere.......

[Sewingbelle Two Needles Find all posts View Profile Close Sewingbelle]

Re: Pattern match when curtains closed

Hi Philip

Thanks it's good to know that the leading edges won't always meet - something else I have learned from this forum

Oh no, definitely not a major issue that I need to cut into the width of the fabric I'll plod along quite happy now knowing that it can happen

The half drop repeat conclusion was probably reached as a result of my not so good way of explaining things

[enid Pins & Needles Find all posts View Profile Close enid]

Re: Pattern match when curtains closed

Have only just caught up with this one tonight, and agree that it does not look like a half drop. The leading edges will not match as there is always the amount turned in, but I do hope that they will meet !!!!! Now there's another question??

Sorry, its Friday and red wine night, but Sewing Belle, I'm glad you came and asked the question and got the answers you wanted, there is always someone here to help.

Enid

[Sewingbelle Two Needles Find all posts View Profile Close Sewingbelle]

Re: Pattern match when curtains closed

Hi Enid, yes the edges will definitely meet